Ice sport device



W. GEBIEN July 4, 1967 ICE SPORT DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1966 1 z w M I a Zf 4 M I Z d V Z Z 2 5 m W q i 4 4 Tm L WWII? 4 7 w d i I 0 0 w U H fl 5Z w M m m f 1 2/ 4 WW Z Z W 4 United States Patent My invention relatesto winter sports, and particularly to a device for leisure time icesport activity which has more mobility than ice skates and can be usedby one or more persons without any additional equipment.

Essentially my device consists of a board or support platform mounted ona pair of tandemly disposed sets of runners. The runners are mounted fortilting movement with respect to the platform, and for canting movementwith respect to the centerline of the device. When a rider shifts weightto one side or the other of the centerline of the device, the front setof runners cants or turns in the direction of the weight shift, and therear set of run- 11ers turn in the opposite direction. This turningrelationship occurs irrespective of the point of application of theunbalanced weight on the support platform. My device has the furtherfeature of a built in stabilizing effect in that there is an initialresistance to tilting of the board with respect to the ice surface sothat something more than a slight imbalance is required to tilt thesupport platform.

Accordingly an important object of my invention is to provide an icesport device which has equal or greater mobility than a pair of iceskates and can be used by one or more persons of almost any age withoutany additional equipment.

Another object is to provide an ice sport device having a supportplatform mounted on co-operating, tandemly arranged sets of runnerswhich cant in opposite directions from the centerline of the devicewhenever an unbalanced weight is placed on one side or the other of thesupport platform.

Another object is to provide a device such as above described in whichthe runners cant approximately the same amount irrespective of the pointof application of the unbalanced force along the length of the supportplatform.

Yet a further object is to provide an ice sport device as abovedescribed in which all runners in each set of runners make contact withthe ice on turns, and sliding on turns is thereby virtually eliminated.

Another object is to provide an ice sport device as above describedwhich is capable of being quickly stopped 'without first shifting therelative position of the runner to the ice.

Yet another object is to provide an ice sport device of the typedescribed above in which the turning responsiveness of the device can beeasily varied by a simple adjustment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma reading of the following description of the invention.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawing wherein.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view;

FIGURE 3 is a front view with parts omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a View taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 1;and

3,329,439 Patented July 4, 1967 FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of mydevice in a turned condition as viewed from beneath.

Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like parts throughoutthe following description of the drawing.

My device is indicated generally at 10 in FIGURE 1. It consistsessentially of a board or support platform 11 which, as best seen inFIGURES 2 and 5, may have an airfoil shape. It will be understood ofcourse that any suitable configuration may be employed within the scopeof the invention.

Two runner sets are indicated generally at 12 and 13. Each runner setconsists of a pair of runners 14, 15 and 16, 17 respectively. Each pairof runners is mounted on a runner frame or truck of similarconstruction, only one of which will be described.

The runner frame or truck for runner set 12 consists of a longitudinalmember 18 which is welded or otherwise suitably connected at each end toa pair of inverted V shaped arm members 19, 20. Each runner frame ispivotally connected by a bolt assembly 28, 29 to a tilt transmittingmember or bar 21. As best seen in FIGURE 4 each bolt assembly comprisesa bolt received in a pair of aligned, oversized holes in the tilt bar 21and the longitudinal frame member 18, these two members being spacedfrom one another by a washer 22. t

The tilt bar 21 is of a rigid, unitary construction and extends from onerunner set to the other as best seen in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5. It ismounted for tilting move ment with respect to the support platform 11 bya pair of adjustable tension spring assemblies 23 and 24. As can be bestvisualized from FIGURE 5 the tilt bar 21 is non circular in shape sothat it may be positively displaced away from the support platform 11.In this instance a U shaped channel member has been employed, thechannel member being so oriented that the member 21 is able to tiltabout the free edge of each of legs 26 and 27.

The structure for canting the runner sets with respect to the centerlineof support platform 11 consists essentially of a pair of turningbrackets 30, 31, each of which is formed in roughly the shape of a U ascan be best seen in FIGURE 4. A cam track or slot 32, 33 is formed inthe U shaped portions of each of brackets 30, 31 respectively. Eachturning bracket terminates in a pair of flanges, indicated at 34, 35 and36, 37. Bolts or other suitable securing means fasten the turningbrackets 30, 31 to the under side of support platform 11. Slots may beprovided in flanges 3437 to enable the position of the turning bracketto be varied forward and backward with respect to the vertical turningaxis of each runner frame for a purpose which will appear hereinafter,said vertical turning axis being the centerline of belt assembly 28 inthis instance.

A roughly Z shaped cam is indicated at 40 and 41, each cam memberprojecting into an associated slot in an adjacent turning bracket. Eachcam member is welded or otherwise rigidly carried by its associatedrunner set.

A brake is indicated generally at 42. In this instant the brakecomprises a flat plate having a downturned portion 43 which extendstoward the ice. The horizontal portion 44 is secured by bolts 45 to theunderside of the support platform.

The use and operation of my device are as follows.

The user steps or sits on support platform 11 at any position between.the extremities of the runners. Motive power may be supplied by placingone foot on the support platform and pushing off with the other foot. Ifdesired, an abrasive surface can 'be applied to the upper plain surfaceof support platform 11 to ensure a good grip thereon.

If it is desired to make a left turn, the rider merely shifts his weightto the left of the centerline. Leftward "movement of the riders weightcauses the platform 11 to shift from the stabilized neutral condition Nof FIG- URE 3 to the left turn position L of FIGURE 3. Since doublerunners are employed both runners will remain in contact with the icebut tilt bar 21 will be tilted with respect to support platform 11 asindicated best in FIGURE which, it will be understood, shows theconditions of the runner sets during a left turn. Because of the actionof cam follower 41 in cam track 33, the runner set 13 is canted leftwardfrom the centerline of the support platfrom. By the same token, theaction of cam follower 40 in cam slot 32 will cause runner set 12 toshift to the right. This simultaneous double, opposite shifting of therunner sets 12 and 13 enables the rider to make very tight, short radiusturns and precludes sliding and scraping of the runners over the ice asis the case when only the front set of runners is canted. Furthermore,it will be noted that because of the rigidity of tilt bar 21 theunbalance weight application can be made at any point within theextremities of the runner sets and the same amount of tilting effectwill be provided. This is of advantage in that it enables a rider who isstanding to place one foot ahead of the other, thereby improving hisbalance. Furthermore, the responsiveness of tilt may be easily varied oftwo ways. By simply tightening or loosening the spring assemblies 23, 24and 46, the amount of force required to tilt a given amount can beeasily varied. In addition, the turning radius of the device can bevaried by adjusting the position of the turning brackets 35, 36 withrespect to the turning axis of the pivot assemblies 28 and 29. Thus, bymoving the turning brackets 34, 35 closer to their respective pivotassemblies 29 and 28, a greater canting or turning effect will beprovided for a given weight displacement. As the user becomes morefamiliar with the device he may wish to move the turning brackets 30, 31toward their associated pivot assemblies so as to execute more intricateturning maneuvers with minimum exertion.

The runners 14-17 have a slight curvature as indicated in FIGURE 1. Thisis a preferred form because it contributes to low friction during turnsand straight runs. The blade portions of the runners may if desired behollow ground and experience has indicated hollow ground blades to bedesirable, but not essential.

The illustrated brake is only one of many that could be employed.However, the illustrated brake is especially advantageous in thisapplication because it is activated by the rider shifting his Weight tothe rear. When the board rears up it is in a perfect attitude for therider to maintain his balance, and thereby provides a stop movement withthe board in the best possible position.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described it will at once be apparent to those skilled in the artthat modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example the camming arrangement which includes turningbrackets 30, 31 can be replaced with a functional equivalent such as aball joint assembly. The sole function of these devices are to providesubstantially equal, and simultaneous, turning movement to the front andrear runner sets 13 and 12 irrespective of the location and amount ofunbalanced weight, and any means by which this may be accomplished isconsidered to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly it'willat once be apparent that the scope of the invention should not belimited by the foregoing exemplary description but solely by the scopeof the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim: 1. An ice sport device, said device including, in combination,

a support platform, two ice runner means carried by the supportplatform, said ice runner means being disposed in tandem, each icerunner means including a pair of runners which are disposed in fixed,spaced relation to one another in all positions of said ice runner meanswith respect to the support platform, the longitudinal axis of thesupport platform being located between the outermost runners in eachpair of runners, and means for simultaneously canting the tandemlydisposed ice runner means alike amount in opposite lateral directionsfrom the longitudinal axis of the support platform in response to aweight imbalance applied to the support platform at one side of saidlongitudinal axis at any point between the extremities of the tandemlydisposed ice runner means, said canting means including firstly, abodily rigid tilt transmitting structural means disposed in tiltingrelationship to the support platform, and, secondly, means fortranslating tilting movement between the tilt transmitting structuralmeans and the support platform into canting movement about a generallyvertical axis of the ice runner means with respect to the supportplatform. 2. The ice sport device of claim 1 further characterized inthat the aforesaid canting means further includes yieldable meansassociated with the support platform effective, when the supportplatform is horizontal, to maintain the tilt transmitting structuralmeans in a stabilized condition with respect to the support platform. 3.The ice sport device of claim 2 further characterized firstly, in thatthe tilt transmitting structural means is a rigid member which extendsfrom one runner means to another, secondly, in that the ice runner meansare mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the rigid tilttransmitting structural means, as well as canting movement with respectto the support platform, and thirdly, in that the tilting movementtranslating means is a cam assembly, one portion of which is rigidlycarried by the ice runner meansvand the other portion of which isrigidly carried by the support platform, said portions having a slidingconnection. 4. The ice sport device of claim 3 further characterized inthat the yieldable means are springs which are biased to maintain therigid tilt transmitting structural means in stabilized condition againstthe support platform. 5. The ice sport device of claim 1 furthercharacterized firstly, in that each ice runner means consists of a pairof runners which are maintained in fixed, spaced side-by-side relationby a rigid frame, and secondly, in that the tilt transmitting structuralmeans includes a rigid, non-circular tilt bar which is tiltable withrespect to the support platform, and further including spring meansbiased to urge the tilt bar into a stabilized condition with respect tothe support platform whereby the support platform is urged into ahorizontal position, pivot structure connecting each ice runner frame tothe tilt bar in pivotal relationship about an axis generallyperpendicular to the tilt bar, and a cam assembly for each pair ofside-by-side runners, each cam assembly including a cam surface carriedby the support platform and a cam follower carried by the runner frame,the cam assemblies associated with the pairs of runners being arrangedto cant the pairs of runners in opposite 6 t directions from the centerline of the support plat- References Cited form upon tilting movementbetween the tilt bar and UNITED STATES PATENTS the support platform. 6.The ice sport device of claim 5 further including 332,575 12/1885Wheeler 569,459 10/1896 Hook 280-16 means for repositioning the camassemblies with respect to the support platform to thereby vary thecanting effect derived from a given weight displace- BENJAMIN HERSHp'lmary Examinerment. L. D. MORRIS, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ICE SPORT DEVICE, SAID DEVICE INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORTPLATFORM, TWO ICE RUNNER MEANS CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT PLATFORM, SAID ICERUNNER MEANS BEING DISPOSED IN TANDEM, EACH ICE RUNNER MEANS INCLUDING APAIR OF RUNNERS WHICH ARE DISPOSED IN FIXED, SPACED RELATION TO ONEANOTHER IN ALL POSITIONS OF SAID ICE RUNNER MEANS WITH RESPECT TO THESUPPORT PLATFORM, THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SUPPORT PLATFORM BEINGLOCATED BETWEEN THE OUTERMOST RUNNERS IN EACH PAIR OF RUNNERS, AND MEANSFOR SIMULTANEOUSLY CANTING THE TANDEMLY DISPOSED ICE RUNNER MEANS ALIKEAMOUNT IN OPPOSITE LATERAL DIRECTIONS FROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THESUPPORT PLATFORM IN RESPONSE TO A WEIGHT IMBALANCE APPLIED TO THESUPPORT PLATFORM AT ONE SIDE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS AT ANY POINTBETWEEN THE EXTREMITIES OF THE TANDEMLY DISPOSED ICE RUNNER MEANS, SAIDCANTING MEANS INCLUDING FIRSTLY, A BODILY RIGID TILT TRANSMITTINGSTRUCTURAL MEANS DISPOSED IN TILTING RELATIONSHIP TO THE SUPPORTPLATFORM, AND, SECONDLY, MEANS FOR TRANSLATING TILTING MOVEMENT BETWEENTHE TILT TRANSMITTING STRUCTURAL MEANS AND THE SUPPORT PLATFORM INTOCANTING MOVEMENT ABOUT A GENERALLY VERTICAL AXIS OF THE ICE RUNNER MEANSWITH RESPECT TO THE SUPPORT PLATFORM.